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Mayacamas Vineyards

15 notes Sort by: Vintage - Name - Rating

2015
Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon  (Mt. Veeder)
93
Medium-bodied, bright, fresh, crisp, crunchy, peppery red fruits, come along with forest floor and leafy nuances. With a lean to old-school classically designed California Cabernet, this is going to need until at least 2025 to become fun to drink.

Medium-bodied, bright, fresh, crisp, crunchy, peppery red fruits, come along with forest floor and leafy nuances. With a lean to old-school classically designed California Cabernet, this is going to need until at least 2025 to become fun to drink.

5,639 Views   Tasted
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2013
Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon  (Mt. Veeder)
93
Powerful, tannic, backward, structured and fresh, the wine is filled with crisp, crunchy red fruit, smoke, thyme and licorice. The wine is concentrated, layered and with a bright character to the finish. This demands at least a decade and perhaps double that in the cellar before it's ready for prime time consumption.

Powerful, tannic, backward, structured and fresh, the wine is filled with crisp, crunchy red fruit, smoke, thyme and licorice. The wine is concentrated, layered and with a bright character to the finish. This demands at least a decade and perhaps double that in the cellar before it's ready for prime time consumption.

5,890 Views   Tasted
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2009
Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon  (Mt. Veeder)
86
Tart, bright, crisp and acidic, the medium bodied wine felt hard. Better on the nose than the palate, with its red fruits, I know some people will like this a lot more than I did. It's just not much fun to drink.

Tart, bright, crisp and acidic, the medium bodied wine felt hard. Better on the nose than the palate, with its red fruits, I know some people will like this a lot more than I did. It's just not much fun to drink.

3,721 Views   Tasted
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2006
Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon  (Mt. Veeder)
83
It's too bad Mayacamas does not make wine like they used to. Their Cabernet Sauvignon from the 70's is still going strong today. Sadly, this lighter style of wine offers tart cranberry, spice and cherry, medium body and a tart, rustic finish. Some tasters will like this more than I did. It's not my style of wine.

It's too bad Mayacamas does not make wine like they used to. Their Cabernet Sauvignon from the 70's is still going strong today. Sadly, this lighter style of wine offers tart cranberry, spice and cherry, medium body and a tart, rustic finish. Some tasters will like this more than I did. It's not my style of wine.

4,307 Views   Tasted
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1994
Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon  (Mt. Veeder)
80
Much more interesting on its tobacco, earth, spice, cassis and cranbery nose than on its shrill, faded, tart, red berry finish.

Much more interesting on its tobacco, earth, spice, cassis and cranbery nose than on its shrill, faded, tart, red berry finish.

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1979
Mayacamas Vineyards Chardonnay  (Mt. Veeder)
80
Hanging on to life by a very, very thin thread, you could sense a bit of lemon buried in the petrol nose and finish to make it interesting to taste a California Chardonnay at close to 40 years of age.

Hanging on to life by a very, very thin thread, you could sense a bit of lemon buried in the petrol nose and finish to make it interesting to taste a California Chardonnay at close to 40 years of age.

2,935 Views   Tasted
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1978
Mayacamas Vineyards Chardonnay  (Mt. Veeder)
60
Deep gold in color, with a tart, orange character, to say this was past its prime would be polite. On the bright side, it was wet, had ABV and a tiny bit of orange fruit remaining.

Deep gold in color, with a tart, orange character, to say this was past its prime would be polite. On the bright side, it was wet, had ABV and a tiny bit of orange fruit remaining.

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1978
Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon  (California)
96
Provenance matters. This bottle was stunning! Power, austerity, grace, and complexity are what you find in the non-stop waves of blackberries, currants, tobacco leaf, tart cherries, wet forest floor, and spice. The chewy fruit hits all the right notes with its balance between sweet and tart. This was simply a stunning example of classic California Cabernet Sauvignon at its peak. Drink from 2023-2030.

Provenance matters. This bottle was stunning! Power, austerity, grace, and complexity are what you find in the non-stop waves of blackberries, currants, tobacco leaf, tart cherries, wet forest floor, and spice. The chewy fruit hits all the right notes with its balance between sweet and tart. This was simply a stunning example of classic California Cabernet Sauvignon at its peak. Drink from 2023-2030.

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The herbal, olive, green pepper and leafy components overrode the bright red pit fruits and dominated the wine. The green was there on the nose and palate, along with strong cedar and tobacco notes and a semi-austere character. Fans of this style will like it a lot more than I did.

The herbal, olive, green pepper and leafy components overrode the bright red pit fruits and dominated the wine. The green was there on the nose and palate, along with strong cedar and tobacco notes and a semi-austere character. Fans of this style will like it a lot more than I did.

2,819 Views   Tasted
1978
Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon  (Mt. Veeder)
84
Tart red fruit and earthy scents in the nose. Rustic in personality, the fruit is fading and leaves you a tart, cranberry, drying sensation in the finish. Drink up.

Tart red fruit and earthy scents in the nose. Rustic in personality, the fruit is fading and leaves you a tart, cranberry, drying sensation in the finish. Drink up.

3,284 Views   Tasted
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1976
Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon  (Mt. Veeder)
87
A good ringer for a fading 1970's Bordeaux wine in a blind tasting due to its earth, tobacco, cedar and cranberry, cherry nose. Medium bodied, slightly tart in its red fruit finish, this requires drinking.

A good ringer for a fading 1970's Bordeaux wine in a blind tasting due to its earth, tobacco, cedar and cranberry, cherry nose. Medium bodied, slightly tart in its red fruit finish, this requires drinking.

3,570 Views   Tasted
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1974
Mayacamas Vineyards Chardonnay  (Mt. Veeder)
70
Not quite dead, which is saying a lot for a 40 year old bottle of California Chardonnay. If you prefer notes of petrol, mixed in with your honeysuckle and a tart finish, you'll probably like this more than I did.

Not quite dead, which is saying a lot for a 40 year old bottle of California Chardonnay. If you prefer notes of petrol, mixed in with your honeysuckle and a tart finish, you'll probably like this more than I did.

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1974
Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Mountain  (Mt. Veeder)
94
Rustic, bright, crisp, earthy, leafy and spicy red fruits are accompanied by tobacco nuances. The wine retains density, lift and length, as well as complexity, finishing with sharp, sweet and tart red fruits.

Rustic, bright, crisp, earthy, leafy and spicy red fruits are accompanied by tobacco nuances. The wine retains density, lift and length, as well as complexity, finishing with sharp, sweet and tart red fruits.

3,410 Views   Tasted
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Stern, tart, yet, lively, fresh, aromatic, and popping with a cornucopia of herbs, red fruits, forest floor and tobacco scents. Full bodied, reserved, but with a strict, finesse bearing, it's hard to see this getting better, but I said that about 10 years ago too!

Stern, tart, yet, lively, fresh, aromatic, and popping with a cornucopia of herbs, red fruits, forest floor and tobacco scents. Full bodied, reserved, but with a strict, finesse bearing, it's hard to see this getting better, but I said that about 10 years ago too!

3,984 Views   Tasted
The best bottle of this wine I recall tasting. The wine had a sweet and tart cherry quality, that paired perfectly with the earth, tobacco and thyme notes. Full bodied, slightly rustic, but still utterly charming, this was quite nice and a perfect example of what classic California Cabernet Sauvignon is all about.

The best bottle of this wine I recall tasting. The wine had a sweet and tart cherry quality, that paired perfectly with the earth, tobacco and thyme notes. Full bodied, slightly rustic, but still utterly charming, this was quite nice and a perfect example of what classic California Cabernet Sauvignon is all about.

3,501 Views   Tasted
This particular bottle of 1974 Mayamas was disappointing. I've tasted, better, fresher, cleaner examples. My bet is, it was the specific bottle and not the wine. The color made it seem like the wine was at least 10-15 years younger. The nose offered tobacco, earth, blackberry, cassis and cedar. But the palate was marred by some bitter flavors, rusticity in the tannins and a bit too much acidity in the finish. The fill was pristine, but after close to 40 years, it's all about the bottle. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I have a few more to try.

This particular bottle of 1974 Mayamas was disappointing. I've tasted, better, fresher, cleaner examples. My bet is, it was the specific bottle and not the wine. The color made it seem like the wine was at least 10-15 years younger. The nose offered tobacco, earth, blackberry, cassis and cedar. But the palate was marred by some bitter flavors, rusticity in the tannins and a bit too much acidity in the finish. The fill was pristine, but after close to 40 years, it's all about the bottle. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I have a few more to try.

4,765 Views   Tasted
Smoke, caramel, earth, licorice, spice, cassis and mocha aromatics are in abundance. This concentrated old school Cabernet, wine feels a little rustic in mouth and ends with cassis and rhubarb flavors that express some tart qualities.

Smoke, caramel, earth, licorice, spice, cassis and mocha aromatics are in abundance. This concentrated old school Cabernet, wine feels a little rustic in mouth and ends with cassis and rhubarb flavors that express some tart qualities.

4,319 Views   Tasted
1970
Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Mountain  (Mt. Veeder)
96
So much better than the bottle I tasted over a decade ago, this was just great. Piquant red fruit, cedar, leaf, herbs, pepper and tobacco were all over the place. Sweet and tart, full-bodied, spicy and bright, with length and an earthy, red berry finish, this is classic California Cabernet at its best.

So much better than the bottle I tasted over a decade ago, this was just great. Piquant red fruit, cedar, leaf, herbs, pepper and tobacco were all over the place. Sweet and tart, full-bodied, spicy and bright, with length and an earthy, red berry finish, this is classic California Cabernet at its best.

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Great aromatics. Some cherry tinged fruit in the short finish. The wine declined in the glass after 10/20 minutes.

Great aromatics. Some cherry tinged fruit in the short finish. The wine declined in the glass after 10/20 minutes.

4,149 Views   Tasted
1968
Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Mountain  (California)
96
Here is a wine I never thought I would see again. Not quite as rich, fresh or dense as the previous bottle, yet this was still a sublime example of a classic California Cabernet with all the bright red fruits, cedar, herbs, earth and tobacco you need. A bit stern, the wine finishes with a blend of cherries, thyme and herbs. This is fully ready for consumption.

Here is a wine I never thought I would see again. Not quite as rich, fresh or dense as the previous bottle, yet this was still a sublime example of a classic California Cabernet with all the bright red fruits, cedar, herbs, earth and tobacco you need. A bit stern, the wine finishes with a blend of cherries, thyme and herbs. This is fully ready for consumption.

2,527 Views   Tasted
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1968
Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Mountain  (Mt. Veeder)
98
It is difficult to believe that not only is this more than 50 years of age, released the year Hendrix produced "Electric Ladyland", but the wine is stunning! One of the best older, classic California wines I have ever tasted, this is dense, full bodied, and loaded with ripe cherries, pipe tobacco, cigar box, herbs, wet earth and smoke. The wine has body, depth, complexity and character that shine from start to finish. This deserves to be talked about as one of the top, older California wines ever made!

It is difficult to believe that not only is this more than 50 years of age, released the year Hendrix produced "Electric Ladyland", but the wine is stunning! One of the best older, classic California wines I have ever tasted, this is dense, full bodied, and loaded with ripe cherries, pipe tobacco, cigar box, herbs, wet earth and smoke. The wine has body, depth, complexity and character that shine from start to finish. This deserves to be talked about as one of the top, older California wines ever made!

2,771 Views   Tasted
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